European High-Speed Rail
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High-speed rail (HSR) is transforming the way Europe moves. Fast, comfortable, and climate-friendly, HSR is increasingly the first choice for travellers, whether commuting for business, visiting family, or exploring new places. It brings cities closer together, connects people and regions, and makes long-distance travel more inclusive than ever before. HSR is more than just a mode of transport, it is a catalyst for a better rail system overall. When connected to strong local and regional services, HSR becomes the backbone of truly integrated mobility. CER members are leading the way in Europe with around 600 daily cross-border connections, and fully support the EU’s objective to triple HSR by 2050. But to turn this ambition into reality, we need coordinated action: targeted infrastructure investments, smart financing, full interoperability, and a level playing field between all transport modes. |
To advance high-speed rail across Europe, CER works closely with its members, the rail sector, and the European institutions to shape policy, share knowledge, and promote integrated development. Explore some of the latest developments below.
CER High-Speed Rail Taskforce
The CER High-Speed Rail Task Force addresses key questions regarding the European High-Speed Rail Network, focusing on how it could be structured and what would be required to connect all major European metropolitan areas and capitals via HSR services.
Railways are fundamental to territorial cohesion. As the EU seeks to decarbonise transport, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen the Single Market, the development of an integrated HSR Network that ensures sustainable and multimodal mobility has never been more relevant.
The task force examines essential aspects of the HSR master plan, including the definition of such a network, the structure of nodes and links, and the funding requirements, sources, and investment schemes necessary for its realisation. A key outcome of their work is the CER position paper A High-Speed Rail Master Plan for Europe (see below).
European High-Speed Rail Network: CER Position Paper
CER has long advocated for action to be taken on high-speed rail at European level. The need was identified in Enrico Letta’s report on the Single Market, it was reaffirmed in Mario Draghi's report on competitiveness, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tasked Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, with drawing up a plan for a European High-Speed Rail Network linking all EU capitals and major cities.
CER’s position paper A High-Speed Rail Master Plan for Europe outlines a clear vision and actionable roadmap for delivering a continent-wide High-Speed Rail Network that connects all EU capitals and major cities.
The paper highlights key measures to unlock the potential of a HSR Network, including a dedicated EU funding envelope in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, ensuring cross-border compatibility of international high-speed services, and creating a level playing field between transport modes.
A fact sheet summarising the main benefits and recommendations on HSR is also available here.
EU Survey: Perception of High-Speed Rail in Europe
Commissioned by CER and carried out by Polling Europe, the EU survey Perception of High-Speed Rail in Europe shows that a large majority of European citizens would like to travel faster and more easily between European countries, preferring to travel by high-speed rail instead of flying. It also shows that support is widespread and that citizens see the advantages of high-speed rail, both in countries already served by high-speed lines, such as France or Spain, and in countries where they are not yet available.
Joint Declaration by CER and Eurocities on Connecting Europe at High-Speed
The CER-Eurocities Joint Declaration praises the EU’s commitment to tripling high-speed rail traffic by 2050 and highlights the transformative potential of HSR to drive sustainable growth, cohesion, and climate progress. It calls for:
- A viable and coherent European HSR network, completing the corridors identified in the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) and connecting all EU capitals and major cities.
- Long-term, sustainable funding, combining EU, national, and private investment to meet the estimated €546 billion needed by 2050.
- Seamless and passenger-friendly ticketing, integrating long-distance and local mobility.
- A level playing field with other transport modes, through fair taxation and monitoring of cross-border connectivity.
High-Speed Rail Studies & Essays
CER has collaborated with its members, the rail sector, and academic institutions to produce studies and analyses on the topic:
- Study Smart and affordable high-speed services in the European Union shows the way to future sustainable mobility, covering the socio-economic and environmental benefits of high-speed rail.
- Study Metropolitan Network: A strong European railway for an ever closer union, including maps and forecasted impacts on demand, rail market share and travel time country-by-country.
- CER Essay High-speed rail as a strategic tool for achieving European transport policy goals, including country-specific insight on HSR from Italy and addressing the benefits of HSR integration with other modes.
- CER Essay Railway innovation in the 21st century, including country-specific insight on HSR from France and addressing high-speed rail as a major industrial innovation.
- CER Essay Czech high-speed rail for a sustainably connected Europe, including country-specific insight on HSR from Czechia and addressing high-speed rail as a backbone of sustainable transport.
Events & News
CER regularly organises and participates in events related to high-speed rail:
- Event Connecting Europe at High-Speed (2025)
- Joint Declaration CER and Eurocities on Connecting Europe at High-Speed (2025)
- Resolution European Rail Sector calls for synergies to realise High-Speed Rail Action Plan (2025)
- News EU survey reveals large majority of citizens would swap planes for high-speed trains to travel in Europe (2025)
- News CER Calls for bold EU action in new High-Speed Rail Master Plan (2025)
- Event European Commission’s Implementation Dialogue on High-Speed Rail (2025)
- News EU Informal Transport Council under the Hungarian Presidency (2024)
- Event On Track For Much More than a Market (2024)
- News EU Informal Transport Council under the Belgian Presidency (2024)
- Event Connecting the high-speed dots: The key to faster, cleaner East-West connectivity (2024)
- Event The High-Speed Solution for an ever closer and sustainable Europe (2023)
- Event TEN-T exhibition and timetable Imagining a Europe connected by high-speed rail (2022)
